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A. K. EATON.

Ore Amalgamator.

No. 30,567. Patented Nov. 6, 1860.

Witnesses! w Inventor. m XdiYZQ/ZI;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. K. EATON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GOLD-AIvIALGAlVIATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 30,567, dated November 6, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. K. EATON, of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gold- Amalgamators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accom' panying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in the construction and working of a gold amalgamator, so as to secure the minute particles of gold that usually are carried away in suspension.

The following is a description of the construction and mode of using the apparatus. It consists of a pan A, to which is attached the framework B, required for the support of the rotating portion of the apparatus 0, D, E.

C, is a bowl attached to a hollow shaft, D, which is terminated by a circular iron disk E. The bowl, hollow shaft and disk are caused to rotate by means of the pulley F. The iron disk E is amalgamated on its under surface and suhicient mercury is introduced into the pan, to cover the bottom to the depth of the line, G, or to a level with the top of the iron disk. The disk is flanged at the edge to keep the mercury in place but the flange is cut away at 3 or t points to prevent the displacement of mercury by means of water.

The amalgamator being ready for use, the pulverized ore, accompanied by a stream of water (hot water is preferred) is supplied regularly to the bowl as it rotates. The pressure of the column of water in addition to the centrifugal force, causes the ore to traverse the amalgamated surface of the iron disk in spiral lines to the circumference,

every particle of gold being thus, in effect, forced through a mass of mercury of great extent. This apparatus takes up, most effectually, the floating gold that has been lost under the ordinary modes of working. It has proved itself very efficient in the working of auriferous sulfurets, owing to the protection of the mercury from the action of sulfur that is afforded by the amalgamated iron plate. To some extent evidently the sulfurets are decomposed in their transmission through the amalgamator. The preservation of the mercury from the usual effects of the sulfurets that of becoming changed to a grayish powder that will float away upon the water-is one of the most important features in the working of this ma chine. Without the amalgamation of the under surface of the iron plate it would be impossible to prevent the loss of suspended gold; nor can such gold be saved by passing it, in the shallowest possible stream over an amalgamated surface.

I do not here claim broadly the use of amalgamated surfaces, as it would cover the iground of a previous patent issued to me,

lVhat I claim and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The use of an inferior amalgamated surface substantially as herein specified, in contact with the superior surface of a body of mercury.

2. The combination of the rotary disk with the hollow shaft and receiving bowl, substantially as herein described.

A. K. EATON.

Witnesses EDM. F. BROWN, S. P. EATON. 

